IN a bid to uplift the out-of-school youth (OSYs) in Cagayan de Oro, various stakeholders from public, private, and business sectors gathered for the second installment of the Kahigayonan Caravan Skills Training Expo and Job Fair.
This event, a cornerstone initiative of the Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance (OSYDA) of Cagayan de Oro, was held at the University of Science and Technology of the Southern Philippines (USTP) recently.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando A. Uy, speaking through a representative, opened the event emphasizing the pivotal role of education and productivity in personal and societal growth.
He expressed his belief that education not only empowers individuals but also provides the capacity to influence the trajectory of the city’s future.
Encouraging the participants to maximize the benefits of the job fair and skills training expo, the mayor underscored the potential of aligning personal passions and values with career opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the society.
In Mayor Uy’s view, the essence of business, innovation, and development is crucial to understand and act upon.
He urged the youth to be audacious and imaginative, nurturing their entrepreneurial spirit.
He emphasized that the city’s potential could be unlocked through their creativity and ambition, suggesting that they could become catalysts for change and progress.
The mayor also stressed the importance of multisectoral partnerships, exemplified by OSYDA, in achieving success and community strength.
City Administrator and lawyer Roy Hilario Raagas shed light on the challenge the city faces concerning out-of-school youth.
He noted that poverty is a significant factor driving the increase in OSYs, a problem that calls for efforts from not only the national government but also local government units and private sector partners.
Consequently, initiatives like the Kahigayonan Caravan, similar to USAID Opportunity 2.0, are essential in providing second chances and additional opportunities for the youth.
OSYDA Co-chairman and SK Federation President, Councilor John Michael L. Seno, shared valuable life lessons with the participants, emphasizing the importance of good character, respect for the divine, and gratitude.
He also stressed the need for the youth to learn to be self-reliant since parents won’t always be there, but assured that the City Government is committed to supporting them through various programs and activities, including the Kahigayonan Caravan.
USTP System President Ambrosio B. Cultura II reiterated USTP’s unwavering commitment to youth education and expressed his ambition to contribute to the pool of experts and service providers who will be key players in regional and national development.
He proudly reported that USTP has managed to expand different programs in support of the youth in just three years.
The Kahigayonan Caravan, now in its second leg, continues to serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity for out-of-school youth in Cagayan de Oro City. (With Irene Dayo of PIA-10)
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